Ombudsman to get power to probe hospital complaints

FINANCE Minister CharlieMcCreevy will give the Ombudsman powers to investigate complaints about some of the country's biggest hospitals, his spokeswoman said yesterday.

Ombudsman Kevin Murphy will strongly criticise the Government today for failing to give him these powers, despite promises toprovide them nine years ago.The new laws giving the Office of the Ombudsman powers to investigate complaints against 27 public voluntary hospitals were promised in the Programme for Government nine years ago.

When the Ombudsman launches his 2002 annual report in Dublin today, Mr Murphy will reveal no progress has been made in fulfilling that commitment.

This means patients who have complaints against the 27 public voluntary hospitals have no option but to take the risky and costly route through the courts, according to Mr Murphy. These hospitals include the Mater, Beaumont and St James’ in Dublin, the Mercy in Cork, Portiuncula in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, as well as the three main maternity hospitals in Dublin.

Mr Murphy will also state that he regrets the lack of progress in giving him the powers to probe patients' complaints against these hospitals.

The Ombudsman has been critical of the Government in two previous annual reports over its failure to bring in the promised legislation. In contrast, patients who have complaints against public hospitals have an advantage, because they can ask the Ombudsman to probe them without incurring court costs.

A Ombudsman Amendment Bill that would allow him investigate complaints against public voluntary hospitals was drafted seven years ago and the move was announced twice by the Department of Finance. Asked why the Government had not brought in the promised legislation, a Department of Finance spokeswoman said she could not comment, but Minister McCreevy is committed to putting the Ombudsman Amendment Bill on the Oireachtas schedule this autumn.

The 2002 Ombudsman’s annual report will be Mr Murphy's last. He retires on June 1. The report will also cover his investigations into complaints against the Department of Education and Science, health boards and local authorities.